Mark 15

Bearing Christ's Cross

And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. Mark 15:21.

Away in North-East Africa there was a large and beautiful city called Cyrene. The inhabitants of that city were largely Jews who had left their own land on account of the heavy taxes in Syria. Although they were so far from their native soil these Jews never forgot their homeland. Their great desire was that they might one day travel to the sacred city of Jerusalem and take part in the Feast of the Passover.

Among these Jews in Cyrene was a man named Simon. For years this man had been saving his money to go to the great Feast. At last he had gathered enough, and one morning he said “Good-bye” to his wife and two little boys, Alexander and Rufus, and set out on the great journey. Many weary miles did he travel, until at length he reached the city of his desire.

Now at the time of the Passover Jerusalem was always very crowded, for many Jews from the countries round about came to the Holy City to take part in the Feast. When Simon arrived he found there were no rooms to be had in the city, and he found lodgings in one of the little villages near. From there he went in and out to Jerusalem every day.

On the morning of the Day of Preparation for the Sabbath he set out as usual to go to Jerusalem. His heart was filled with peace and thanksgiving. And he praised God for having brought him to that day, for having granted that he should take part in the blessed Feast in the Holy City.

As he approached the gates of Jerusalem a sound arrested him. In the distance it was like the roaring of an angry sea, but as he came nearer he distinguished the cries of an infuriated mob. When he reached the gate the crowd surged through, and he stood aside to let them pass. A crucifixion was evidently about to take place on the hill outside the city. Here were the Roman soldiers accompanying the criminals, here were the Jewish rabble who were always present on such occasions. But why should the priests and scribes also be among the crowd these men who usually scorned to lower themselves by taking part in such a scene?

Then among the yelling crowd he descried the victims, each one carrying his own cross and escorted by four Roman soldiers. The first two were men on whose faces sin had placed its stamp; but the third bore on His countenance the marks of such patient suffering, such Divine love, that the heart of Simon was moved with compassion. On Him the mob seemed to vent all their hatred. The rabble mocked, the soldiers made fun. And just as He passed Simon He fell fainting under the weight of the cross.

Here was a predicament for the centurion who commanded the soldiers. It was customary to make criminals carry their own cross, but this man was evidently unable to carry His any farther. Who then was to be pressed into the service? Not any of his own soldiers certainly: they would look upon it as an unspeakable disgrace. Not any of the Jewish mob: they would regard it as an insult of the last degree, and there would certainly be a riot in consequence. Ah, here was the very man on the outskirts of the crowd a stalwart man, and a stranger to the place. There would be no trouble with him.

So Simon of Cyrene found himself seized by the soldiers, and he had to submit to the awful degradation of bearing a cross. How bitter his thoughts were as he worked up that hill after Jesus. Here was he an honest, honorable man forced to undergo this terrible disgrace! The crowd, delighted to find an additional object for their jests, were already mocking him; his friends would undoubtedly come to hear of the insult; he would be a marked man for life. Oh, the shame of it!

And then something wonderful happened. Jesus looked on him. It was a look of Divine gratitude and compassion, and it made all the difference. In later years Simon would think of that hour as the dearest in his life, the hour of his greatest privilege and highest honor. For it is almost certain that he became a follower of Christ; and we are told that his two boys, Alexander and Rufus, grew up to be much respected Christians in the church at Rome, and that his wife was as a mother to St. Paul.

Now, boys and girls, some of us are inclined to envy Simon of Cyrene. We should like to have been in his place that day, to have helped to lift the load off Christ's weary shoulders, to have received His look of love. Well, we cannot go back to Calvary with Jesus, we cannot climb that “green hill far away,” but we can still help Him to bear His cross, if we will. How can we do it?

The monks at Roncevaux in France have an odd custom. At dawn on the morning of Good Friday a long procession issues out of the abbey gates, each man bearing a heavy wooden cross in imitation of Christ's cross-bearing to Calvary. Through the villages and hamlets they pass, choosing the roughest and steepest roads, until at last they reach the abbey gates again.

Do you think that is really helping Jesus to bear His cross? No, He has shown us a better way.

For we can bear Christ's cross in bearing our own cross. What is your particular cross? What is it that you find difficult to do or to bear?

Perhaps it is your lessons. You are not very clever, and sometimes lessons are a great trouble. You grow weary of them and are tempted to skip them or skim them. Well, when you are bravely endeavoring to learn lessons that you don't like, you are bearing a little bit of Christ's cross and winning a victory over yourself at the same time.

Perhaps your cross is a little ache or a little pain. When you are bearing your little ailments or your little cuts and bruises cheerfully and quietly you are helping to lift a tiny bit of Christ's cross.

Perhaps your cross is being poor. You are not so well off as others, and you are inclined at times to feel a little vexed because you have not so much money to spend, or so many nice things to wear. When you are putting these discontented thoughts behind you, and trying to make the best of things as they are, you are bearing a little of Jesus' heavy load.

But even more we can bear Christ's cross by helping to bear the cross of others.

For Jesus is still bearing His cross. He is suffering with and for everyone who is sad, or sorry, or sick, or sinful, or in trouble. And we can bear His cross by cheering the sad and the sick, by comforting the sorrowing, by helping the bad people to be good.

Shall I tell you how two boys I knew bore the cross of another?

One was quite a small boy about eight years old and he was full of fun, and fond of all sorts of games and mischief. He had no brothers and only one grown-up sister, but next door lived a family of happy children with whom he often played. All these children were strong and healthy except one little girl. Somehow or other Ruth's spine had been injured, and laid constantly on her back.

Now that small boy in his play never forgot the little invalid girl. He planned that, somehow or other, she was always brought into the game. If it were “hide and seek,” Ruth must be the “den”; if it were cricket, her couch must be drawn to a place of vantage and she must act umpire.

The other boy was quite big about fourteen or fifteen. The teacher of his class in school noticed that he always came into the room after the others. One day he discovered the reason. In the class was a lame boy who had lost his leg through accident, and the boy who was last always waited to help this unfortunate friend upstairs.

Later that boy entered the navy and became a hero. He risked his life in a wild sea to rescue people off a burning vessel, and his brave deed was known the world over.

Do your little bit, then, as you can, and where you are, to make things brighter and better for those who need your help. Then you too, with Simon of Cyrene, will be bearing Christ's cross.